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Stocks climb ahead of January inflation
The stock market started the week on a positive note as the main index stayed above the 6,700 level ahead of today’s January inflation report......»»
DOH: Kwitis burns unsuspecting 72-year-old as firecracker injuries climb to 107
Injuries due to pyrotechnic devices continue to rack up days ahead of the New Year festivities, with survivors already breaching the 100 mark......»»
DOH: Firework-related injuries climb to 52 ahead of New Year s Eve
As of 6 a.m. on December 26, Herbosa said that hospitals had documented 24 new cases, with 23 of them being male, inflicting individuals ranging from five to 52 years old. .....»»
Fireworks-related injuries climb to 8 ahead of New Year 2024
The Department of Health (DOH) advised parents to stop their children from using fireworks after the government logged in new fireworks-related injuries days before the Christmas and New Year festivities......»»
Tech titan Amazon sees profit climb as cloud promises boon
Online retail colossus Amazon on Thursday said profit surged in the recently ended quarter on growing sales and more efficient deliveries, with its cloud business promising even better days ahead. The e-commerce colossus said it made a profit of $9.9 billion on sales that tallied $143.1 billion in the recently ended quarter, with more than half its operating income made from Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud unit. Google parent Alphabet and computing colossus Microsoft this week reported rising quarterly profits, playing up demand for cloud computing enhanced with artificial intelligence. Investors, though, had hoped for better performance from Google Cloud causing the company's shares to slip. While Amazon Web Services (AWS) grew 12 percent when compared to the same quarter a year earlier, the unit's growth lagged that of rival cloud businesses operated by Microsoft and Google. "I remain very optimistic about AWS," Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy said on an earnings call. "There's a lot more there for us; then you look at the very substantial, gigantic new generative AI opportunity, which I believe will be tens of billions of dollars in revenue for AWS over the next several years." Amazon just weeks ago said it would invest up to $4 billion in AI firm Anthropic. The success of OpenAI's ChatGPT, a chatbot released last year that can generate poems, essays, and other works with just a short prompt, has led to billions being invested in the field. Anthropic agreed to use Amazon's chips to develop its next models and to use AWS for "mission-critical workloads." Amazon has already announced it aimed to soup up its Alexa voice assistant with generative AI, which the firm said would allow users to have smoother conversations. Retail rebound Amazon earnings "soared past expectations" in the quarter, according to Insider Intelligence analyst Zak Stambor. "We had a strong third quarter as our cost to serve and speed of delivery in our stores business took another step forward," Jassy said, adding its ad business grew "robustly" and AWS cloud computing business "continued to stabilize." "The retail giant's slowdown last year appears to be in the rearview mirror as it has embarked on significant cost-cutting throughout this year and sharpened its focus on key growth areas, such as its high-margin online marketplace and advertising," Stambor said. A top US antitrust regulator sued Amazon in September, accusing the online retail behemoth of running an illegal monopoly by strong-arming sellers and stifling potential rivals. "Our complaint lays out how Amazon has used a set of punitive and coercive tactics to unlawfully maintain its monopolies," said Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. Robots and drones Amazon said Thursday it will hire 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees in the United States to handle shopping demand in the months ahead. Amazon said last week that it will expand drone delivery of certain purchases to a third US state as well as to Britain and Italy by the end of 2024. The US firm has installed a new robotics system in one of its Texas logistics centers, featuring technology like automated vehicles, mechanical arms, and computer vision technology. Amazon already uses 750,000 robots in its warehouses to speed up deliveries. "The better they get at delivery, the more it continues to grow the e-commerce market overall and Amazon's place within that market," said Insider Intelligence analyst Andrew Lipsman. But increased productivity via robots won't fix underlying Amazon worker issues, critics say. Amazon early this year eliminated some 27,000 jobs in a move it said at the time was necessary, after years of sustained hiring. Ads shine Advertising continues to be "a major bright spot" for Amazon and it has started using generative artificial intelligence to help sellers create "eye-catching" ads in its online marketplace, analyst Stambor said. Insider Intelligence expects Amazon's US advertising business to bring in nearly $34 billion this year a major leap from before the COVID-19 pandemic. The post Tech titan Amazon sees profit climb as cloud promises boon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bank lending declines, consumer loans rise
Bank lending of universal and commercial banks posted slower expansion amid higher money supply in the country, data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed on Thursday. Preliminary data showed that domestic liquidity (M3) grew by 5.9 percent year-on-year to about P16.4 trillion in June 2023 from 6.6 percent in May, driven by the sustained expansion in bank lending to non-financial private corporations and households. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, M3 increased by about 0.2 percent. Domestic claims rose by 10.1 percent year-on-year in June from 11.4 percent in the previous month. Claims in the private sector grew by 7.9 percent in June from 9.3 percent in May. Net claims on the central government also expanded by 17.2 percent in June from 18.3 percent in May, owing mainly to the borrowings by the National Government. Net foreign assets in peso terms fell by 2.8 percent year-on-year in June following a 2.7-percent expansion in May. The BSP's NFA position declined by 0.6 percent in June after increasing by 4.2 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile, the NFA of banks declined on account of higher bills payable. "Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to ensure that domestic liquidity conditions remain in line with the BSP's price and financial stability objectives," BSP said. Meanwhile, U/KBs' outstanding loans, excluding those placed in the central bank's reverse repurchase facility, grew at a slower rate of 7.8 percent year-on-year in June from 9.4 percent in May due to a continued rise in lending to key sectors. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, increased by 0.6 percent. Outstanding loans to residents, net of RRPs, also increased at a softer pace of 7.9 percent from 9.3 percent in May. Outstanding loans for production activities went up by 6.3 in June, following a 7.9-percent expansion in the previous month due to a continued rise in lending in electricity, gas, steam and airconditioning supply (11.8 percent); wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (9.7 percent); real estate activities (3.8 percent); financial and insurance activities (7.7 percent); and information and communication (11.2 percent). Likewise, outstanding loans to non-residents went up by 4.8 percent in June from 13.2 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile, consumer loans to residents rose at a slightly faster rate of 23.7 percent in June from 22.7 percent in May given the increase in credit card and motor vehicle loans. "The slowdown in credit activity reflects the impact of monetary policy tightening which continues to work its way through the economy," BSP said. "Looking ahead, the BSP remains prepared to ensure that domestic liquidity and lending dynamics are in line with its price and financial stability objectives," BSP added. The post Bank lending declines, consumer loans rise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t funds inflation measures with loans
Borrowings of the national government from domestic and foreign sources continued to climb as they exceeded the P1-trillion mark in the first half of the year. The loans were purportedly intended for programs to respond to the impact of high prices, mainly through subsidies to the poor. Economists expect prices of basic commodities to remain high as the holiday season approaches. Most of them agreed that the third quarter is considered a period for stockpiling inventories, while the final three months see hefty holiday spending, which both increase price pressures. Bureau of Treasury data showed that actual gross borrowing hit P1.33 trillion during the January–June period, up by 24.3 percent from P1.07 trillion a year ago. In the first half, the government borrowed three times more from domestic sources at P1.06 trillion, while gross external financing reached P366.44 billion. Domestic borrowings came from retail Treasury bonds worth P283.76 billion and fixed-rate bonds worth P686.15 billion. Foreign debts came from project loans totaling P57.76 billion, program loans of P145.06 billion, and global bonds worth an equivalent of P163.6 billion. In June alone, gross financing reached P158.95 billion, up by 14.65 percent from P138.64 billion for the same month in 2022. Gross domestic borrowings reached P143.92 billion in June 2023, a 49.22-percent increase from P96.45 billion a year ago. Broken down, domestic debts came from P125 billion in fixed-rate Treasury bonds and P18.92 billion in Treasury bills. Meanwhile, external gross borrowings declined by 54.61 percent to P22.57 billion from P49.72 billion in the previous year. This consisted of P2.66 billion in program loans and P19.9 billion in new project loans. Government borrowings are okay as long as they are used for productive purposes, according to a previous statement from the Department of Budget and Management. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said the government’s debt-to-gross domestic product ratio rose at the height of the pandemic because the government had to take out additional debt to fund the health sector. “There is a deficit because you have insufficient revenues and the balance will come from borrowings. So, it’s all interconnected,” Pangandaman said in a vlog. The Development Budget Coordination Committee, or DBCC, has a target to bring down the debt-to-gross domestic product ratio to less than 60 percent by 2025. The post Gov’t funds inflation measures with loans appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Vingegaard wins second successive Tour de France
Jonas Vingegaard won his second successive Tour de France on Sunday after Jordi Meeus claimed the final stage honors on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Denmark's Vingegaard of the Jumbo-Visma team crossed the finish line after the 21-day race 7min 29sec ahead of Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, the champion in 2020 and 2021. Pogacar's UAE teammate Adam Yates of Great Britain rounded out the top three podium. Vingegaard's winning margin was the largest since 2014 when Italian Vincenzo Nibali took the fabled champion's yellow jersey by 7min 39sec. "I enjoyed fighting for this win with 'Pogi' and Yates, but now I'm just looking forward to having a nice dinner here in Paris with my family," said the champion. "It was a long, hard race and one day ran into another but there's a feeling of being proud and happy. "Winning for the second time is amazing with all the Danish people here. I hope to come back to take a third win, at least try it." Despite finishing runner-up, Pogacar was happy to focus on the positives. "Considering everything it's been a great Tour, I have to be happy with that," Pogacar said after picking up his best young rider jersey for the fourth time. "We have two guys on the podium, and I won two stages and the white jersey. I love cycling," he said. The final stage was won by outsider Meeus of the Bora team, with Jasper Philipsen denied a fifth stage win on this Tour right at the line in a photo finish. "What a wonderful finish, it's been such a high level Tour," said the surprise stage winner. - Cracked - The world's greatest bike race provided tense drama with spectacular backdrops as Vingegaard and Pogacar remained separated by seconds until the Dane edged ahead with a sensational individual time trial last Tuesday. The following day, on a 28km climb to the ski resort of Courchevel, Pogacar cracked, shouting "I'm gone, I'm dead" before Vingegaard killed off the race with a sensational final climb. The event had been billed as a showdown between the defending champion Vingegaard and Pogacar, who has won the Tour twice and now come second twice. Tour director Christian Prudhomme used boxing terms to describe the struggle. "They went 15 rounds and then there was a punch in the gut, a knee on the floor and a knock out punch," he said Sunday. All time great Eddy Merckx told AFP the pair had delivered a thrilling show. "Pogacar is a more complete rider, but in the high mountains at least, Vingegaard remains the stronger," he said. "I don't know what happened to me. I took on too much this year and after two weeks I started to look as white as this shirt," said runner-up Pogacar, pointing to his best under-25 rider's white jersey. Pogacar started well enough, taking minor advantages in the Basque hills until Vingegaard attacked on the first mountain stage in the Pyrenees to take the overall leader's yellow jersey. And while Pogacar clawed back a few seconds here and there, the defending champion never relinquished the lead all the way to Paris. Runner-up in 2021, the softly-spoken Vingegaard was the only rider to challenge the Slovenian prodigy in the high mountains. In 2022, he went one step higher and won the title at altitude, and it proved to be the case again in 2023, but with a Tour of such poise and dominance his claim to be targeting a third straight title must be taken seriously. "The Tour de France is the greatest race in the world," beamed the 26-year-old. "There's something so special about it and I can tell you I'll be back again next year to try and win it again." dmc/dj © Agence France-Presse The post Vingegaard wins second successive Tour de France appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wildfires ‘off the charts’ in Canada as temperatures climb
The number of forest fires continues to rise in Canada, climbing on Friday to more than 670 blazes -- more than 380 of them out of control -- with a long and difficult summer ahead. "The numbers are literally off the charts, with at least three more months left in the active wildfire season," said Michael Norton of the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources. And weather forecasts for the coming weeks predict above-average temperatures in many parts of the country in the west, and also in northern Quebec, the worst-hit region. With nine million hectares (22.2 million acres) already gone up in smoke -- 11 times the average for the last decade -- the absolute annual record set in 1989 has been surpassed. Authorities tallied 677 active fires in the country on Friday (with 13 new blazes discovered during the day), including 386 that were burning out of control. Some 155,000 people have been forced to leave their homes at some point due to the fires since the beginning of May, the highest figure for 40 years. "It's no understatement to say that the 2023 fire season is and will continue to be record-breaking in a number of ways," Norton said, adding that he expected the number of fires to remain above average throughout the summer. The fires ravage areas on both sides of the country, and areas unaccustomed to fires are affected. One of the forest fires in northern Quebec alone burned more than one million hectares. "From evacuations to poor air quality and extreme heat warnings, we are experiencing the reality of climate change effects," Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said. This has forced authorities to rely on an unprecedented level of international aid to support the 3,800 Canadian firefighters on the ground, backed up by the Canadian Armed Forces. "The firefighting effort has now truly become a global effort," Norton said. A total of over 3,000 international firefighters -- hailing from countries including New Zealand, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain and South Korea -- are hard at work tackling the mega-fires. Smoke from the fires so far this season has fouled the air in Canada and neighboring United States, affecting more than 100 million people, at times disrupting flights and forcing the cancellation of outdoor events. The post Wildfires ‘off the charts’ in Canada as temperatures climb appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
M3, bank lending growths reflect
Bank lending of universal and commercial banks or U/KBs and domestic liquidity posted higher expansion in May, data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas revealed over the weekend. Data recently released by BSP showed that U/KBs’ outstanding loans, net of reverse repurchase or RRP placements with the BSP, posted higher annual expansion in May at 9.4 percent from 9.7 percent in April. On a month-on-month seasonally -adjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, increased by 0.7 percent. Outstanding loans to residents, net of RRPs, went up 9.3 percent in May from 9.6 percent in April. Similarly, outstanding loans for production activities rose 7.9 percent in May after growing 8.3 percent in the previous month. The central bank attributed the growth to the continued increase in loans to significant industries, specifically electricity, gas, steam, and airconditioning supply (14.1 percent); real estate activities (5.5 percent); wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (8.6 percent); information and communication (15.9 percent); and financial and insurance activities (7.3 percent). Consumer loans to residents grew slightly faster rate of 22.7 percent in May from 22.3 percent in April due to the increase in credit card, motor vehicle and salary loans. Outstanding loans to non-residents also went up by 13.2 percent in May from 12.2 percent in the previous month. “The moderation in bank lending activity reflects the impact of the BSP’s cumulative policy rate adjustments,” BSP said. “Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to ensure that domestic liquidity and credit dynamics align with its price and financial stability mandates,” it added. P16.3 trillion circulating Meanwhile, BSP said M3 grew 6.6 percent year-on-year to about P16.3 trillion in May 2023. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, M3 increased by about 0.3 percent. Domestic claims rose 11.4 percent year-on-year in May from 11.9 percent in the previous month. Claims on the private sector grew by 9.3 percent in May from 9.8 percent (revised) in April, driven by the sustained expansion in bank lending to non-financial private corporations and households. Net claims on the central government also expanded by 18.3 percent in May from 20.2 percent (revised) in April, owing mainly to the borrowings by the National Government. Net foreign assets in peso terms grew by 2.7 percent year-on-year in May following the 0.2-percent contraction in April. The BSP’s NFA position expanded by 4.2 percent in May after increasing by 2.5 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile, the NFA of banks declined on account of higher bills payable. “Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to ensure that domestic liquidity conditions remain consistent with the BSP’s price and financial stability objectives,” BSP said. The post M3, bank lending growths reflect appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US averts first-ever default with 11th-hour debt deal
US senators voted to suspend the federal debt limit Thursday, capping weeks of fraught negotiations to eliminate the threat of a disastrous credit default just four days ahead of the deadline set by the Treasury. Economists had warned the country could run out of money to pay its bills by Monday -- leaving almost no room for delays in enacting the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which extends the government's borrowing authority through 2024 while trimming federal spending. Hammered out between Democratic President Joe Biden and the Republicans, the measure passed the Senate with a comfortable majority of 63 votes to 36 a day after it had sailed through the House of Representatives. "No one gets everything they want in a negotiation, but make no mistake: this bipartisan agreement is a big win for our economy and the American people," Biden said in a statement posted to social media. He said he would sign the bill "as soon as possible" and address the nation Friday. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer added that the nation could "breathe a sigh of relief" after avoiding a "catastrophic" economic collapse. "But, for all the ups and downs and twists and turns it took to get here, it is so good for this country that both parties have come together at last to avoid default," he said. The bill -- which now heads to Biden's desk to be signed into law -- ended a day of intense back-and-forth between party leaders and rank-and-file members who had threatened the bill's quick passage with last-minute gripes about the details. Democratic leaders had spent months underlining the havoc that a first default in history would have wrought, including the loss of millions of jobs and $15 trillion in household wealth, as well as increased costs for mortgages and other borrowings. 'Behind the eight ball' The late evening drama came after a series of failed ballots on amendments sought mainly by Republicans who were threatening at one point to hold up the process, dragging it deep into the weekend. Senators elected to offer 11 tweaks to the 99-page text, many objecting to funding levels for their pet projects -- from border control and Chinese trade to taxation and the environment -- and each requiring a vote. Defense hawks upset at Pentagon spending being capped at Biden's budget request of $886 billion threatened at one point to derail the bill's passage entirely. In the end, they fell in line after being offered a commitment to a separate bill providing cash for Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion, and promoting US national security interests in the Middle East and in the face of Chinese aggression against Taiwan. "As currently written, this bill puts our military behind the eight ball... The first and most important dollars we allocate each year in the budget are those to protect and defend the United States and our interests," said South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham. America spends more money than it collects through taxation, so it borrows money via the issuing of government bonds, seen as among the world's most reliable investments. Around 80 years ago, lawmakers introduced a limit on how much federal debt could be accrued. Politically toxic The ceiling has been raised more than 100 times since to allow the government to meet its spending commitments -- usually without drama and with the support of Democrats and Republicans -- and stands at around $31.5 trillion. Both parties see raising the debt limit as politically toxic, although they acknowledge that failure to do so would plunge the US economy into a depression and roil world markets as the government missed debt repayments. Republicans hoped to weaponize the extension to campaign against what they see as Democratic overspending ahead of the 2024 presidential election, although hikes in the debt ceiling only cover commitments already made by both parties. Kevin McCarthy, the top lawmaker in the Republican-led House, had touted the bill he spent weeks negotiating as a big victory for conservatives, although he faced a backlash from hardliners on the right who said he made too many concessions on spending cuts. He fell one short of the 150 votes -- two-thirds of his caucus -- he had promised to deliver in the lower chamber as he fought to quell a right-wing rebellion, and needed Democratic help to advance the bill to the Senate. On the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, the vote was being touted as a major victory for Biden, who managed to protect almost all of his domestic priorities from deep cuts threatened by Republicans. "This legislation protects the full faith and credit of the United States and preserves our financial leadership, which is critical to our economic growth and stability," said US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The post US averts first-ever default with 11th-hour debt deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Every breath a struggle, as air pollution harms health in Thailand
An elderly patient hooked up to a tangle of tubes lies struggling for breath in a Bangkok hospital as Thailand battles a "drastic increase" in respiratory problems caused by a spike in air pollution. His wife holds his hand and strokes his face, with a nurse in blue scrubs listening to his chest through a stethoscope. Every single breath is an exertion. About 2.4 million people in Thailand have needed treatment for medical problems linked to air pollution since the start of the year, including nearly 200,000 this week alone, according to health officials. Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai were among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world on Friday, according to air quality monitoring firm IQAir. Piamlarp Sangsayunh, a respiratory disease specialist at the Central Chest Institute of Thailand in Nonthaburi, says she has seen a "drastic increase in patients since February". "The patients usually have respiratory problems like coughing and sore throats," she told AFP on Friday, adding that eye irritation is also common. Elderly people are among the most vulnerable to air pollution, which can exacerbate existing conditions, sometimes requiring them to be put on oxygen machines, she said. But she said those working outdoors -- such as Bangkok's vast army of street vendors and motorbike taxi drivers -- were the ones "on the front line" of the crisis. Toxic air Uraiwan Chantana, who sells fish balls on the street in Bangkok's central shopping district, said breathing in toxic air every day made her exhausted, but she could not shut her stall because she had no other way to earn money. "I feel a burning pain inside my nose and I regularly cough," she told AFP. "I feel out of breath when I climb stairs when I normally didn't." World Health Organisation representative to Thailand Jos Vandelaer said air pollution was not solely a health issue but also dented economic productivity. "If people are sick they can't go to work, and there will be a reduction in economic activity," he told AFP. The economic cost of air pollution in Thailand in 2019 was equal to $63.1 billion or 11 percent of the gross domestic product, according to Kasetsart University environmental economist Witsanu Attavanich. One of the biggest concerns is tiny particles known as PM2.5, smaller than the diameter of a hair, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even reach the bloodstream. According to IQAir, in 2022 the average PM2.5 concentration in Thailand was 3.6 times the WHO's annual air quality guideline limits. "In the long term, there are more risks for respiratory infections... If people have asthma that can get worse, people can develop chronic lung diseases, even lung cancer," Vandelaer said. "What is less well known is that this PM2.5 can cause cardiovascular diseases... increase the risk of a stroke or heart attack." Air pollution was a factor in about 31,000 deaths in 2019 in Thailand according to WHO data. Smoke from forest fires, farmers burning crop stubble, as well as vehicle emissions and heavy industry-generated fumes, are among the main causes of toxic smog in the kingdom. The El Nino weather pattern is also exacerbating the haze problem in Southeast Asia, experts say. Thailand is home to more than 70 million people and its poor air quality is a growing issue ahead of the country's May 14 election, with the incumbent government accused of not doing enough. "We need to fix the problem at the roots, as a doctor I'm just on the receiving end dealing with the consequences," Piamlarp said. Vandelaer said more regulation was needed to address fires and polluters, adding that individuals should also think about how their transportation and lifestyle choices affected air quality. Bangkok motorcycle taxi driver Tip Panyangam, 59, said he often felt unwell from the smog despite wearing a double mask. "I want the people in power to reduce it because I am worried about my health," he told AFP. The post Every breath a struggle, as air pollution harms health in Thailand appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Messi scores stunner as PSG beat title rivals Lens
A brilliant Lionel Messi goal helped Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-1 home win over Lens on Saturday to surely end any doubt about the outcome of this season's Ligue 1 title race, after an early sending-off left the visitors with a mountain to climb. Lens, who began the day six points behind league leaders PSG in second place, looked the better team until Ghana midfielder Salis Abdul Samed was dismissed for a dangerous challenge on Achraf Hakimi in the 19th minute. That changed everything, and by halftime the hosts were out of sight thanks to three goals in the space of 10 minutes from Kylian Mbappe, Vitinha and then Messi, with Przemyslaw Frankowski pulling one back for Lens from a penalty. Mbappe opened the scoring and Vitinha's long-ranger doubled PSG's lead in the 37th minute. Both goals were good but Messi's that made it 3-0 was stunning, the Argentine finding a pocket out of space outside the area, feeding a pass to Mbappe and then receiving the France striker's backheel return before slotting beyond goalkeeper Brice Samba and into the far corner. The result leaves the reigning champions nine points ahead with seven games left, meaning it is surely just a matter of time until PSG secures a French record 11th league title. "We must not think that it's done and dusted," said coach Christophe Galtier. "We will need to remain serious and determined to maintain our lead and not give any hope to the teams chasing us." The win comes at the end of a week overshadowed by allegations of racism against Galtier, who had already been under pressure since PSG's elimination from the Champions League last month. Galtier said on Friday that he was "deeply shocked" by accusations that he made racist and Islamophobic remarks about Nice players when he was in charge there last season. The allegations surfaced in an email apparently sent by former Nice sporting director Julien Fournier and which have been reported by various French media. AFP has not been able to verify the message. The affair looks set to hang over the coach and the club in the coming weeks. "I was very determined and focused on the match, like my players," Galtier said of trying to stay concentrated on the game. "It was obviously an important match, if not decisive, and so it was important to get the result and enjoy it." Lens were hoping to take advantage of the leaders' problems and extend a four-match winning run that had got the northern club's supporters dreaming of a first league title since 1998. They triumphed 3-1 when the teams last met in Lens on January 1 and they started the better of the two sides at the Parc des Princes. Yet their enterprising opening did not bring a goal and they were severely handicapped when Abdul Samed saw red for catching Hakimi with his studs above the ankle. They were then torn apart with Mbappe firing in off the post on the turn from Vitinha's pass for his 20th league goal this season. Vitinha then smashed in his first goal in a PSG shirt before Messi took center stage. The Argentine's 20th club goal of the campaign was also arguably his finest in two years in a PSG shirt, just as he comes towards what may be the end of his time in France. Lens regrouped in the second half and pulled a goal back when Frankowski converted from the spot after a Fabian Ruiz handball. Lois Openda remained a menace up front for Lens but they were left with too much to do to and will now focus on trying to hold onto a place in the top three and Champions League qualification. "I would have liked us to close the gap tonight but even had we done that it would have been very difficult," admitted Lens manager Franck Haise. "Of course, the title is for Paris. There is not much doubt about that." Marseille can move above Lens into second, and trim PSG's lead to eight points, with a win against Troyes on Sunday. The post Messi scores stunner as PSG beat title rivals Lens appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Forex reserves climb to $99.7 billion in January
The country’s foreign exchange buffer climbed for the fourth straight month, hitting a six-month high of $99.72 billion in January from $96.15 billion in December amid strong inflows arising from foreign borrowings by the national government, as well as the increase in gold prices in the world market, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas......»»
Nicaragua opposition arrests climb to 26& nbsp;
Nicaragua has arrested a sixth presidential contender and four other opposition figures, police said Tuesday, bringing to 26 the number of people rounded up by long-term leader Daniel Ortega's forces ahead of November elections......»»
BSP-approved foreign borrowings up 19% in Q1
Foreign borrowings approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas continued to climb, rising by 19 percent to $2.84 billion in the first quarter from $2.38 billion in the same period last year due to COVID-related spending......»»
Phl at the crossroads
As we all take a break this Holy Week, some of us will pause and ponder on our own individual journeys and think about what lies ahead......»»
UAAP volleyball enters break amid wide-open semis race
It’s the calm before the storm as teams embark on a much-needed pause ahead of an expected all-out race to the UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments Final Four......»»
Malixi all geared up for Augusta Amateur debut
Rianne Malixi is channeling her excitement into thorough preparation ahead of her highly anticipated debut in the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur unfolding April 3 in Augusta, Georgia......»»
Holidays set in 4 areas
Malacañang has declared holidays in four areas to allow residents to participate in local festivities......»»